The beginning of a school year is always hectic. But with construction preparations underway in the Truax campus parking lots, Public Safety chief Jim Bottoni expects things to be a little busier than usual.

“The only concern I have is that I ask students to be patient,” he said. “This is really a good time for the college. A new facility is being built. Anytime there is new construction there’s little headaches and quirks that happen throughout that we can’t accommodate. We can’t foresee every little thing.”

Bottoni said the college will use the WolfPack Alert system to provide critical information that relates to parking. There will also be plenty of officers in the parking areas to help guide student traffic.

“We’re going to have officers pretty much throughout the area, so that students are comfortable with where they’re parking,” he said. “It really should not be too much of an inconvenience for students.”

The college has taken two steps to accommodate for the parking area taken up by the construction. First, staff parking has been moved to a new lot behind the main Truax building. The spaces previously reserved for staff have now been opened for students, creating about 360 spots for students. Second, the parking lot by the soccer fields has been expanded. After both these changes, there are actually 18 more spaces for student parking.

“The biggest inconvenience is to the faculty and staff,” Bottani said. “They actually were moved across the street.”

Some may have noticed the temporary bridge connecting the staff parking lot to the Truax entrance. Bottoni said a larger, permanent bridge that will be set up soon. The temporary bridge is done and functional.

The permanent bridge is being built so it can accommodate vehicle traffic for emergencies. The permanent site is approximately 100-150 feet west of where the temporary bridge is right now. It will go from the north parking lot directly over to the facility building where the employees can walk right in. Stop signs and crosswalks have been set up to get vehicle traffic on the service road stopped and yielding to pedestrians.

If parking at becomes too much of a hassle, the alternative options are still available. The bus pass is still available to students with their OneCard. The student shuttle and carpooling are other options for students.

Bottoni encourages students to plan ahead and remember Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays are peak times.

“So if you have classes during that time, it may not be a bad idea to come a little earlier to be sure that you’re not looking for parking.”